SHARP

APPLICATIONS WILL OPEN IN WINTER 2023

APPLICATION UPDATE — FEBRUARY 23, 2023: The Office of Culture, Community & Equity (OCCE) is working to secure funding for this program. We will be updating this page when we receive more information. Visit Youth Hub for more program opportunities.

Researcher using lab equipment

Summer High School Apprentice Researchers Program (SHARP) is a 6-week program for current 11th-grade Michigan residents. Participants receive a stipend of $2,800 while conducting research under the guidance of U-M faculty and graduate students. SHARP gives participants a head start on the college application process and a glimpse into life as a Michigan Engineering student. Discover the Michigan Difference and explore engineering research to see if it’s your passion!

EligibilityPriceProgram Dates
Current 11th Grade Michigan Residents*Scholars will receive $2,800 stipendSummer 2023 dates TBD

Curriculum Information

Participants conduct research under the guidance of U-M faculty and graduate students. SHARP also gives participants a head start on the college application process and a glimpse into life as a Michigan Engineering student. Students are paired with participating labs based on interest and availability. Lab placement will take place after admission into the program. Below are topics that students investigated during Summer 2022:

  • “Making Chemicals, Polymers and Ceramics”
  • “Autonomous Drone as an Educational Tool”
  • “How to make and see a crystal of less than 1nm thick”
  • “Freezing Water Droplets on Micro/Nanostructured Oil-impregnated Surfaces”
  • “Optical Components and Materials”

EO101

At Engineering OnRamp, we recognize that success in the College of Engineering depends on students having a wide array of skills that go beyond math and science knowledge. EO101 is a curriculum developed by our staff to discuss both hard and soft skills that are necessary for academic, social and personal success and persistence in a competitive institution of higher education, like the University of Michigan. Topics include persistence, self-advocacy, finance, college admissions, emotional wellbeing, and much more! Specific topics are chosen based on program content, grade level and are included in all of our programs.

Alumni, Faculty, & Student Engagement

Throughout the program, students will get a taste of their potential future with Michigan Engineering. Panel discussions with current undergraduate students, lectures from Faculty about their research, and presentations by Michigan Engineering Alumni about their careers in their field are built into the programming.

Program Schedule

Programming will be held in person at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor. Participants will live on campus in Bursley Hall. Students will spend half their day in the lab with their research teams, and half their day with student life advisors visiting labs, touring the campus, and experiencing all that the University has to offer!

Health and Safety

Vaccination is an important and effective step in protecting our community from COVID-19 and safely returning to in-person and residential Pre-College programs. Following University of Michigan Housing requirements, all residential program participants must be vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to arrival to the program. Medical and religious exemptions will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Additionally, all participants in in-person and residential Engineering OnRamp programs must comply with the University of Michigan’s Face Covering Policy.

In-person and residential programs will only occur if the College of Engineering and the University of Michigan can offer a safe and public health-informed experience for everyone involved. Applicants should be aware that in-person and residential programs may be canceled at any time.

*All Engineering OnRamp Participants must be U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents of the U.S.

Give Today!

Every K-12 program within Engineering OnRamp (EO) is 100% funded by our amazing donors ranging from various industries and organizations to gracious individuals who believe in EO’s mission; to serve as a pathway for a diverse group of pre-college students to discover engineering as a profession and choose Michigan Engineering as the place where they want to prepare for their future. With your support, Michigan Engineering and OCCE will move forward with driving a culture of inclusion and equity to further equity-centered engineering, maximizing impact and capacity-building within and beyond the Michigan Engineering community.